Reflecting unit



March 3, 1931. B. H REEVES REFLECTING UNIT Filed Aug. 9, 1928 Jlmiiiii-E INVEN Beauford H, Reeves ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES- f PA TENT OFFICE IBEA'UFOBD n. nnnvns, or new coxnnc'rrcu'r, assumes. 'ro RAY-McMahon rom'rron, a coaroiwrrou or DELAWARE...

v REFLEGIING- UNIT 15mm... aleaafiguzt 9.19%. Serial in. 298,486'.

My invention relates to reflectingunits such as may be'used in signs, warnmgsignals and the like, and has particular reference to f the'type of these units shown in the Murray 6 reissued Patent #16363. Units of the type therein disclosed generally comprise a glass lens havin a cylindrical body with one end convex an the other end plane, a reflector dis osed behind the plane end of the lens and 10 a at bottomed cap enclosing the plane end of the lens and the reflector; In order that these units may withstand exposure to weather without losin their brilhancy it is essential that the cap secured to the lens in such manner as to exclude all moisture and foreign matter from the surface'of the reflector and the corresponding end of the lens.

In my present invention I rovide an effective seal between the cap an the lens which prevents entry of water and other foreign matter into the interior of the cap and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. In order to make such a seal I utilize a soft non-fluid filling or asket such as a soft metallic ring which I orce between the wall of the cap and the surface of the lens after\ which I crim or roll the upper e e inwardly to aid in swelling the sealing nng soft metal and to retain the ring in positlon. 301- also .find it desirable to use aparticularly formed reflector in combination with my sealing ring to assist in the sealing of the cap to the 'lens and in excluding moisture from 1 the reflector. A more detailed description of my inven-' tion follows and is given in connectlon with the drawings in which: v

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through areflecb ing unit constructed in accordance with'my invention;

Fig. 2 a section and plan view of the re flector used in the form of unit illustrated in 1,"and 1g.

3 is asection and plan of a modified form of reflector.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a reflectin unit comprising a lens l-havin a c lindrica body portion, a convex end an a p ane end, a concave reflector 2, having a flat annular is forced, preferabl .In order to aid in swelling the packing and the reflector is formed. with a narrow horiprovide the lens and have accomplished the same 1n peripheral portion or brim 3 .adapted Q rest against theplane end of the lens, and a flat bottomed cap 4. The outer diameter of the brim portion of the reflector is greater than the diameter of the-lens and rests upon, a shoulder or ledge 5 formed in the cap. 'The cap at its upper end is formed with a cylindrlcal wall 6 that surrounds the lens leaving a. space -therebetween,-into which space there under considerable pressure, a softmetal ic ring, 7 such as lead for instance. This filling or packing ring efiectively seals the interior of thecap from the atmosphere and prevents entry of any a moisture or other foreign matter. I The packing gasket also secures the cap to the-lens. with the reflector therebetween by frictional engagement with the surface of the lens.

to retain the packing in position the upper 76 edge of the cap may be curled or crimped over the top of the acking toward the lens. In Fig. 3, I have own a diflerent form of reflector 2 m which the peripheral portion of of er diameter to snugly encircle the lane and of the lens. The-lens, reflector an ca may be assembled, sealed-and secured toget er in the manner heretofore described.

It is apparent from the above that I have a tight jointure betwcenthe cap and such a manner that thecost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum by reason of the low cost of materials used and the minimumnumber of operations required in assembhngthe It is obvious that changes may be made in the devices shownwithout departing from the spirit and scope of .my invention as defined in the appended claims. .7

p I claim:

1. A light reflectin unit comprisin a lens,

a reflector positione behind one en of the lens, a cap encasing one end of said lens and said reflector, the reflector abutting against the cap and the cap having an annular wall surrounding the periphery of said lens, and a soft metallic filler disposed between said wall and said lens and frictionall securing said cap to said lens, the edge of t e annular wall of the ca being inturned and cooperating with the ller to hold the cap and reflector against thelens.

' 2. A light reflecting unit comprising a reflector positioned behind one en lens, a cap encasing one end of said lens and said reflector, the cap and reflector having opposed flanges and the cap having an ana lens,

nular wall surrounding the periphery of said lens, and a soft metallic filler dlsposed between said wall and said lens and frictionally securing said cap to said lens, the edge of the annular wall of the cap bein' inturned and cooperating with the filler to old the'flanges of the cap and reflector in. engagement and to hold the cap and lens.

3. A light reflecting unit comprising a lens, a reflector having a laterally extending flange behind one end of the lens, a cap encasing one end of said lens and said reflector, the cap the reflector against the having a ledge engaging the flange on the re-' flector and an annular wall surrounding the periphery of said lens, and a soft metallic filler dlsposed betweensaid wall and said lens and frictionally securing said cap to said lens, the edge of the annular wall of the 3211f) being inturned and cooperating with the er to hold the flange of the reflector in engagement with the ledge on the ca and to hold the cap and reflector againstthe ens.

In witness whereofi, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

BEAUFORD H. REEVES.

of the. 

